Backroad Odyssey : Travel Stories, Van Life & Road Trip Oddities
Traveling America's backroads, road trip experts - Noah and Noodles - explore fascinating locations overlooked while traveling.
Living out of a van, they unravel the - often shocking - story behind each neglected story or location.
If you love travel, exploration and unique locations - join us on the road!
Episodes
84 episodes
Chasing Margaritaville: The Jimmy Buffet Story
Who is Jimmy Buffett and why should you care? On our drive north, we make an unexpected stop at his childhood home in Pascagoula, Mississippi. While visiting locations important to Buffett's life, we ask three simple que...
The Sirens of the Spring - Lore, Legends & The Weeki Wachee Mermaids
Modern Mermaids are friendly; they haven't always been so kindhearted ... Today, we dive into the obscure origins of the mermaid myth, uncover the darker aspects of their story, and attempt to understand modern portrayals of the myt...
On the Road - Questioning The Home Of Perpectual Sunshine
Welcome to St. Petersburg, Florida.In between the pristine beaches, thriving art scene, and historic neighborhoods of the aptly named “Home of Perpetual Summer,” we ask three thought-provoking questions: What make...
The Shell Capital of the World - Sanibel Island
Today, we explore one of the most shell-populated shorelines in the world: Sanibel Island. Cradled along Florida’s Southwest Coast, the island provides conditions perfect for multitudes of perfectly preserved shells to wash gently a...
On the Road - America's Flattest State: Which One Takes the Crown?
Welcome to the van! During any road trip, questions are bound to arise as your surroundings change. Today we ask: How and when were speed limits first established? Why do trucks have to stop at we...
The Parthenon, Y'all - The Gods Visit Nashville
Nashville has a Parthenon ... why? Nestled into Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, lies an exact-size and detail replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The thrilling story of America's Parthenon might...
On the Road - Why Are Barns Red?
Today, Midwestern highways inspire us to ask:Why are barns red? What defines the boundaries of the Midwest? Why are Hay Bales round? And finally, most controversially, perhaps, which Midwest...
The Savannah Story - America's First Urban Experiment
Today, we walk the oak-lined streets of Savannah, Georgia - often referred to as America’s first truly planned city. Savannah’s many parks, measured plots of land, and deeply walkable nature aren’t just an exercise in alternat...
Travel Stories - Second Families and Road Trip Air Fryers
Welcome to the van as we dig up travel stories from the DEPTHS of Reddit! Abby (of Hooks.and.hops) joins us to discuss traveling air fryers, solo expeditions, and obvious vacations with second families. Buckle up and enj...
The Driftless - Caves, Hills, and the Myth of Flyover Country
Today, we explore a region shrouded in mystery … An isolated land of rugged hills, carved river valleys, and secluded relics of ages past. The American Midwest.Specifically, a reg...
Travel Stories : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Welcome to our inaugural collection of travel stories from the depths of Reddit, where my dog Noodles and I react to online tales that range from bone-chilling to heartwarming.After two years on the road, Noodles and I craft informed com...
The Birthplace of Iowa - The Fiddler and The Forge
What is the REAL story of Iowa? Nestled among the limestone bluffs along the Mississippi River, we unearth the curious origin of Iowa as told through the story of its first permanent European settler, Julien Dubuque. ...
Van Life Diaries - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Today we visit the North Dakota Badlands where the too often overlooked Theodore Roosevelt National Park lingers in the shadows... While there, we answer the following questions: How did Theodore Roosevelt come to h...
The Battle Above the Clouds - Turmoil in Tennessee
Noodles and I summit Lookout Mountain to explore the monumental conflict that occurred along its slopes.Why is the subsequently named "Battle Above the Clouds" overlooked? How is it significant in FULLY understanding the even...
The Fremont Troll - Seattle's Mysterious Resident (Revisit)
In the bustling metropolis of Seattle, Washington - a curious resident claims the shadows beneath Aurora Bridge ... Those who dare to venture into its liar speak of its sheer size, stern gaze and possessive nature. But! ...
Van Life Diaries - America's First National Park City
What's a National Park City? My dog Noodles and I hike the trails of America's FIRST National Park City - Chattanooga, Tennessee - to find out! The answer might surprise you ... We'll also answer l...
The Story of West Virginia - Almost Heaven: Also Mothman
What's the real story of West Virginia? Why is the state often ignored, stereotyped and forgotten?In what world do these questions explain the flurry of West Virginia Mothman sightings of the 1960's? We answer all...
Van Life Diaries - Blue Ridge Mountains: Beyond the Haze
Today Noodles and I camp in the Haze of the Blue Ridge Mountains to answer the following questions:What are the blue ridge mountains? Why are they worth exploring? Why has this section of the country long been ste...
Hemingway's Key West - Behind the Persona
Why should we care about Ernest Hemingway's time in Key West? What did this great American novelist REALLY do and accomplish during his brief residency on the island from 1931 to 1939? My dog and I spend a week on the is...
Van Life Diaries - The Lost Coast: California's Last Wilderness
A singular stretch of untamed wilderness lines Calirfonia's Northern Coast. A landscape so rugged and dramatic that the state's infamous 'route one' avoids it's sheer cliffs and crashing waves.My dog Noodles and I spend three...
Secrets of Plymouth Rock - The Real Story
What’s the real story and legacy of Plymouth Rock? Did the so-called “Pilgrims” REALLY step upon that particular rock that fateful Autumn of 1620? Why and how did Plymouth Rock become the defining “...
Van Life Diaries - Skunk Ape Headquarters
Who is The Skunk Ape?Noodles and I take the van to visit Skunk Ape Headquarters deep in the Florida Everglades in search of answers.We’ll also be answering listener question at the end, which include: What do you ...
The Enchanted Highway - One Man's Dream to Save His Town
The sparse fields of North Dakota hold a secret …Mysterious scrape metal statues populate the wind-swept landscape. The reason behind their labored construction and the harrowing story of the man who built them - that’s...
Van Life Diaries - Understanding Solar and Lunar Eclipses
How much do we REALLY know about eclipses?My answer one year ago would have been - not much.-To amend this, my dog and I witness a total solar eclipse and - nearly a year later - a lunar eclipse in Southern Florida.
The Crater of Diamonds - Arkansas' Volcanic Treasure Field
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where the public can search for natural diamonds at their volcanic source. The 37 acre eroded volcanic crater sees hopeful prospectors prying through loose soi...
